6 out of 10 young people OK with metal detectors at school

An instant poll carried out by Skuola.net among more than 500 students in the aftermath of the tragedy in La Spezia, where a student was stabbed to death at school by a peer, shows that 60% of young people agree with a tightening of controls - including the use of metal detectors in high-risk contexts, such as schools - and with the adoption of a hard line against minors carrying or using knives or other offensive objects, including through severe sanctions such as the withdrawal of their driving licence or passport.

Again Skuola.net, with a survey conducted on a sample of 1,500 girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 25, then emphasises above all the danger of 'normalisation'. Because, among those interviewed, as many as 7 out of 10 believe that continuous exposure to violent content can contribute to trivialising if not even encouraging aggressive behaviour. For 17% it is even the main cause of violence, while for 53% it is one of the contributory causes. Only 30% exclude a link.

In the light of these numbers, it therefore seems reductive to attribute episodes of extreme violence to single labels, such as that of the so-called 'maranza', often simplistically associated with young people of foreign origin. In fact, the problem may concern a much wider audience, made up of adolescents and young adults immersed in a communicative climate where aggression, abuse and extreme language are increasingly frequent and visible.